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Geography UK
Relatively small compared to its world stature, the United Kingdom is more accurately known as the British Isles. Chiefly comprising of three semi-independent countries; England, Wales and Scotland, it consists of one main Island and many small islands off the Scottish coast. It also has curious administrative arrangements with the Isle of Man, Jersey, Northern Ireland and a number of overseas protectorates. Surrounded by sea on three sides, and bordered by Scotland to the north and Wales to the West, Much of England is flat or low-lying, particularly in the east. To the visitor however it seems more like an English country garden, with pretty rolling green hills, sleepy valleys and moors. Despite this small island being heavily populated there is still a surprising amount of well-preserved countryside with a huge network of public walking trails. The Pennines, are a range of limestone hills found in the north, and the north west is marked by the lovely Cumbrian Mountains and the Lake District. Although the Midlands is heavily-populated, England’s oldest National park, the Peak District is a dramatic landscape located smack in the centre. The ‘West country’ (south west actually), is a plateau with granite outcrops, good dairy farming and a rugged coastline. Kent, southeast of London, is known as the garden of England while a long ridge runs across the south of England through Sussex. Its southern coastline consists of temporate coastline, chalky cliffs (especially at Dover) and pebbly beaches. Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall are some of the loveliest counties in England, forming the southwest tail of Britain. Including the New Forest, the area is often heavily wooded, undeveloped and picturesque, with Cornwall being more rugged and barren in places but with spectacular coastal locations. Dartmoor, a barren and moody but unique landscape is located in the southwest of England. Scotland, in the extreme north, is about half the size of England, and consists mainly of the dramatic highlands, one of Britain’s tourist drawcards. The southern plains are however fertile agricultural land. The Grampian mountains, one of the world’s oldest are a pre-cursor to the Highlands. Loch Ness and several other incredible lakes mark the beginning of the Highlands, forming one long divider from east to west. Several roads make them accessible and beyond the highlands lie the many islands, including; the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Orkneys and the Shetlands. Ben Nevis, in the highlands is Britain’s highest peak. Oak, elm, chestnut, lime (not the citrus variety), ash and beech once covered the entire island though the forest have been severely depleted. In summer and spring the countryside flowers in lovely colours. Red deer, foxes and the occasional badger or hedgehog still roam the countryside, while grey squirrels have become a vermin problem. Birdwatching is a popular pastime in Britain. England's national parks cover about 7% of the country and include Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Lake District, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, the New Forest, the Broads and Northumberland.
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